Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar on Tuesday night promised that the Turkish Cypriots “will not forget” Gaza.

“This country is part of the Islamic world, and we are happy to reach another Ramadan in peace and solidarity” he said at an iftar meal organised by the Red Crescent in northern Nicosia.

He then called for the Islamic world to “act in solidarity” during the month of Ramadan, saying, “we will never forget the past, nor will we forget Gaza”.

“In a year and a half, more than 50,000 people in Gaza lost their lives in Israeli attacks. Right now, people are breaking their fasts with limited resources and without homes. As a community which experienced the same things in the 1960s, we understand the Palestinians. Thankfully, there is peace and tranquillity here today,” he said.

He added that for this, “we thank our motherland Turkey”.

The month of Ramadan began on Saturday, with Eid al-Fitr to begin on March 30. The fast will be broken with Iftar on Wednesday at 5.54pm and on Thursday at 5.55pm.